Former University of Alabama president Guy Bailey named to head University of Texas satellite campus

In this Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012, photo, incoming University of Alabama President Guy Bailey speaks to reporters during a media day at Gorgas Library on the campus in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on .(AP Photo/The Tuscaloosa News, Dusty Compton) The Associated Press

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Former University of Alabama Guy Bailey was named the sole finalist in a presidential search for the new University of Texas Rio Grande Valley campus.

The University of Texas System Board of Regents selected the former president and current linguistics professor as its sole finalist for the new satellite campus, which will encompass a medical school.

"The vote by the nine-member UT System Board of Regents was unanimous," Texas newspaper Austin-American Statesman reported Monday. "Under state law, the board must wait at least 21 days before firming up the appointment."

In the summer of 2012, UA's Board of Trustees hired Bailey away from Texas Tech, where he had been president for four years.

Less than two months after he officially took office, Bailey abruptly resigned on Oct. 31, 2012, a Wednesday afternoon, citing that his wife's ill-health left them both unable to fill the role as he would have liked. Jan Tillery-Bailey died on Sept. 1, 2013.

At the time, Debbie Lane, assistant to the president and assistant vice president of University relations, said trustees and university officials were aware of Tillery-Bailey's health condition before Bailey was hired.

Judy Bonner, who served as interim president before Bailey was hired and wasn't considered a candidate in the initial presidential search, was appointed as president by the Board less than 24 hours after Bailey's resignation announcement.

Despite his resignation, Bailey remained an employee at the University, earning $45,000 monthly per his original employment agreement -- even though UA Board of Trustees rules state retreating presidents should have served 5 or more years to be considered a tenured professor and eligible for a paid developmental leave.

In a November 2012 interview, UA Chancellor Robert Witt told The Crimson White following through with Bailey's original employment agreement was the "honorable" thing to do.

According to University payroll records, the presidential employment agreement was nulled in August 2013, when Bailey began receiving standard professor pay.

In April 2013, Bailey was named a presidential candidate at New Mexico State University but was not ultimately hired.